Gen Z Support of Trump

I’m not surprised that Trump won. One of the lessons I took away from 2016 was that my algorithm bubble is what it is, an unreliable snapshot of reality. This time around, I looked outside of my own media echo chamber and saw the signs for a Trump victory. The one thing I am surprised by, and frankly made me ill, is that Gen Z’s swung for Trump. Between 2020 and 2024, Gen Z men shifted rightward by 15 whopping percentage points and Gen Z women by 7. That is a chilling indictment for those of us who parented Gen Zs and were hoping they would push forward progressive values as they come of age. 

It turns out, folks, that the kids weren’t alright.

I think this is a wake up call for us to remember that children are not blank slates. Just as we push back against the idea that children are born sinners, wicked at the core, we should similarly reject the notion that children are born angels, prone towards love and goodness by default. No, children are like the rest of us humans, actively engaging with the world around them with their individual unique personalities and inclinations. A kid is never a good kid or a bad kid; they are kids with distinctive biological makeup, environmental influences, capable of making choices that lead them down paths of destruction or light. And resilient to repair and redemption. And vulnerable to toxicity and downfall. 

I don’t love the polarizing language of good and evil, it’s too reminiscent of my religious childhood, but I embrace pro social, progressive values of inclusivity, care for the marginalized, interconnectedness of our human life with nature, and equality for all. I am reminded that these values require hard work, advocacy, and a constant vigilance (hopefully shared among community) to push forward, that it never happens by default. The allure of authoritarianism and power is too strong. 

We gotta be smart and not ignore the Andrew Tates and Jordan Petersons, these misogynous poisons filling the air our boys breathe. We can’t be naive that our precious little boys could never. 

Having said that, I do still believe, despite evidence of the contrary, that love wins. Rather than spending our time and energy sheltering our kids from the toxicity in the air, we focus on building a family and societal culture of love and inclusivity. The best way to raise children who are feminists, who champion the rights of all, is to honor them while they are marginalized–while they are kids. 

I have been quite alarmed by the way feminists in my community rant viciously against men. I get it, and I don’t want to police women’s valid reactions, but many times I have to remind them, these men you rail against, are your sons. They are your boys and they deserve to be loved and treated with kindness and respect. It is our best chance at raising boys who respect women. 

I’m not saying we give boys and young men a pass for misogynist behavior, even if they are just parroting their influencers. But the way we hold men accountable is different when they are 24 years old, 19 years old, and 13 year old. They are young, with prefrontal cortexes that are malleable and not yet formed. We have to be that positive influence for them and trust that they will make choices that reflect better values. 

Expand our definitions of masculinity: boys can like sports and video games AND crocheting and cooking. Boys can be angry and tough, and they can be vulnerable and soft. Young men can be horny and love romance. Free our boys from the constraints of societal standards for masculinity and be boys who are human, boys who are fully themselves. And surround them with wholesome men, men who are vulnerable and respectful and curious. 

Ultimately our children will form their own values and make their own choices and we can’t fully be held responsible for the paths they choose. But we have a chance while we have them in our care to give the world the healthiest version of who they can be. We have to give it our best shot.